Carcharodontosaurus

Name Origin

Great White Shark Lizard

Family

Carcharodontosauridae

Classification

Diapsida, Saurischia, Theropoda

Habitat (Discovery Location)

Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Niger, Morocco, Libya

Period

Approximately 100 to 93 million years ago (Early Cretaceous)

Length

Approximately 13 meters

Weight

Approximately 6 to 15 tons

Diet

Carnivore (Meat-eater)

Description

Carcharodontosaurus was a giant carnivorous dinosaur that reigned over the African continent during the Late Cretaceous period.
Its name, meaning “shark-toothed lizard,” comes from its serrated, triangular teeth that resembled those of a great white shark.
These sharp teeth were specialized for slicing meat, and it is believed that the dinosaur was capable of attacking even gigantic prey like sauropods.

Its teeth were sharp and well-suited for slicing meat.

Size and a Storied History of a Giant Predator

Carcharodontosaurus, which reached lengths of over 13 meters, was comparable to Tyrannosaurus, but is now seen as being slightly smaller.
Nevertheless, the fact that such a massive predator existed some 10 million years before Tyrannosaurus surprised many researchers.

Its discovery was marked by an unfortunate history.
The first fossils were found in the 1920s but were initially mistaken for those of another dinosaur, Megalosaurus.
Although it was finally recognized as a new species in 1931, the valuable specimens discovered up to that point were destroyed in the fire of World War II, leaving its true nature a mystery for many years.

A turning point came in 1995.
A nearly complete skull was discovered in Morocco, and it was found to be over 1.5 meters long.
This skull was one of the largest ever discovered for a carnivorous dinosaur, but it was lighter and narrower than a Tyrannosaurus‘s, making it suitable for swift predatory actions.

Its Role as Africa’s Apex Predator

Carcharodontosaurus fossils have been found throughout North Africa, suggesting that it reigned at the top of the ecosystem over a vast region.

Another massive carnivorous dinosaur, Spinosaurus, also lived on the African continent during the same period.
The renowned German paleontologist Ernst Stromer, who also named Spinosaurus, is known for formally describing Carcharodontosaurus.
The two are thought to have been in competition in the same region, and fossils of Spinosaurus with what appear to be Carcharodontosaurus bite marks have been found.

Although few fossils of its torso have been found, based on the characteristics of its close relative Giganotosaurus, it is predicted to have had short arms, large hind legs, and a long tail.

It is predicted to have had short arms, large hind legs, and a long tail.

The teeth of Carcharodontosaurus were sharply triangular and lacked the significant curve seen in other theropods.
This tooth structure suggests that it was a ferocious predator that efficiently tore through the flesh of its prey.